The Deeper You Dig The Darker It Gets; Miguel Lozano

Thursday Miguel Lozano, attempted to break the world record for Free Immersion (FIM) in Tulumben, Bali. Unfortunately, despite reaching the anticipated 123m mark Lozano’s attempt was thwarted by a blackout resulting in a disqualification. With his signature long dive times Miguel’s attempt lasted 4 minutes and 40 seconds. The attempt was made on Apnea Bali’s platform which has hosted a number of national record attempts, depth competitions and world records, The platform is specially designed for deep diving attempts and is anchored within eye sight offshore the mesmerizing Volcano Mount Agung.

Miguel Lozano – March 2016 – Photo by Pepe Arcos

Lozano says that his training in the lead up to the attempt had been going very well.

DeeperBlue.com: So what do you think happened?

Miguel Lozano: I think I was weak from having a stomach bug just a few days before. Going down to 123m was not the problem; it was coming back up that caused the issue. It’s funny though you know mountain climbers are only judged on the time it takes to get to the top but we have to go there and back again! (Laughs) I think I was in my peak about 10 days ago few weeks ago. You can arrive and train early, and you can predict the current, the conditions, but unfortunately there are some things you just can not predict. Anyway you never know, it is a world record, pressure, nerves and anxiety are present on this day, not too many people are attempting this record and the day of the record, anything can happen!!

DB: Of course it’s the most asked question, you may have to answer but what do you think about when you dive?

ML: When I dive, on the dive I have my mind purely on the technique but when you have a long period training you know that you will have to push every day more and more, and then the night before every deep dive, and before the deep dive, your mind as a surviving method is telling you the worst possible scenarios. Not so much about your own suffering but of the suffering of the people around you. Even so what do you think about? I mean it’s for everyone to decide himself or herself what works for them.

Miguel Lozano – March 2016 – Photo by Pepe Arcos

DB: Sounds like there is room for existentialism in freediving?

ML: Yes you mean because we are always looking to face death? Yes in this way it is existential. It’s only natural to think about it because you are a freediver we are emotional and not a kamikaze! I am very lucky though because I have unconditional positive support. That’s not an easy thing for your family and loved ones to give you. When we are young we learn our fears from our parents. They are worried for something and so they are worried for us and then they pass this fear onto us. My girlfriend and family only give me positivism even though I am diving very deep. They don’t pass on their fears to me.

DB: Some people would like to think of Freedivers as if they are super human. You seem to be very humble and human about your experience…

ML: You know this part of what we are trying to communicate in Pepe’s film as well, the humanness of the sport. There is nothing transcendental in all this. We try to do something that we love and enjoy every moment and share with the people.

(Lozano is accompanied to Bali by talented photographer and film maker Pepe Arcos who has been crafting a semi biopic freediving film project titled ‘Pressure,’ a perfect title to captivate both the physicality and psychology of freediving.)

I remember listening to some radio interviews in Europe about freediving a while back and they would always be talking about how deep Freedivers must be ‘super’ you know, and I think that it is not the only way for us to be encouraging beginners in the sport.

Miguel Lozano – March 2016 – Photo by Pepe Arcos

DB: So what is the way?

ML: Maybe we should be asking them? Maybe we should be asking the beginners how freediving makes them feel! Everytime I try to define freediving I just go back to my beginnings, and the feelings I had everytime I practiced it, and then I remember how in love of freediving I am.

The record is still held by New Zealand Freediver William Trubridge who set it at 121 m, 6 years ago back in 2011. Breaking this record will be inevitably a challenge. Lozano says that he may attempt again in the future.